Kruger National Park - The best place on earth
Kruger National Park, South Africa.
We have visited Kruger many times and can only report positive about the park and the facilities. But you have to comply with a few traits to enjoy this park, (and any other nature reserve). You have to love: nature, a peaceful environment, absence of city life, no traffic lights, tranquillity and spotting and observing animals (including birds).
The park is large, about 400km long by 60km wide and is dotted with many so called rest camps for the lower budget travellers and lodges for the more upmarket visitors. All camps are fenced, so one can freely walk around. Most camps have a shop where one can buy groceries and other goodies as well as a restaurant. The restaurants used to be mediocre, but this has greatly improved lately now that Kruger no longer operates most of them, but rather commercial restaurant chains. Also most camps have a swimming pool. At various locations in the Park you will find picnic spots (also at every camp) where you can even hire a gas bottle and pan to prepare your own breakfast.
Accommodation in the camps varies from camping to chalets completely fitted with all requirements with various options in between like permanent tents, basic huts (with communal ablution) and more advanced huts. We only encountered neat and clean accommodation.
The occurrence of games varies, but Kruger is well stocked and there are also various waterholes where one can leave the vehicle and wait for the animals to come. The big five are there of course.
In case you go with a tour operator everything is organized for you. But if you want to do it on your own, here some tips:
Book in advance via this website http://www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations/
One can drive by car (about 400km from Johannesburg airport, excellent road) or fly directly into Kruger to Skukuza airport with daily Airlink flights (from Johannesburg and CapeTown) and rent a car on arrival. (Avis) http://flyairlink.com/
There is a daily entry fee for Kruger of R280 for foreigners, which at the current exchange rate is about USD18, which you pay when entering the Park. If you go many nights you can buy a Wildcard making it cheaper. At the gate staff can advise you.
Don’t forget to buy a Kruger map at the gate where you enter, makes travelling so much easier.
Don’t forget your binocular and that long lens in case you like photography.
Every camp has one or more communal kitchens where you can cook a meal in case you want to skip the restaurants and stay in a tent or hut without kitchen.
Search for the Facebook page “Kruger National park – Best Place on Earth” if you want to see and read how others experience Kruger.
And once in Kruger you can follow other people’s sightings on your tablet at https://www.facebook.com/latestsightingskruger/
Kruger is large and the max speed 50km/hour, so don’t book one night in the South and the next in the far North, you won’t make it.
The southern part of Kruger is busiest as far as cars and people are concerned. The camps in the far North, like Punda Maria, Mopanie and Shingwedzi for example are much quieter.
In every camp you can book a game drive with an experienced game ranger, during the day or the evening. They mostly know where the animals are by talking to their colleges via radio.
All in all, Kruger is a fantastic place, it’s a place that missed most that we call progress !
And finally, having been in Kenya as well with its hectic traffic, corrupt policemen and parks costing USD70-UDS90 a day just to get in we can only conclude that Kruger is a visitors paradise.
Tjeerd en Diny de WIt
Review about Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve by Tjeerd de Wit
Great Park
Quite big
Lots of game, also big 5, many rhino.
Review about Mokala National Park by Tjeerd de Wit
Small but nice place to be.
Breeding place of many disease free animals, also rare antilopes.
Great stopover between Cape Town and Johannesburg near Kimberley
Review about Pilanesberg Game Reserve by Tjeerd de Wit
Ideal for day visit from Johannesburg or Pretoria.
Good bird hides
Lots of wildlife
Interesting landscape, old vulcano area.
AT
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Lake Bogorio to Lake Naivasha
It was my first Safari with AWS, the second with Joseph. All and everything was exactly as planed, dreamed of. (well, the Flamingos went to Tanzania while we were at Lake Bagorio ..:-)) Joseph is the most relyable Driver with knowledge of animals, culture, history. This because I always will contact AWS as soon as I will plan my next trip to Kenya or any neighbourhood. Thank you guyes, you did a very good Job at creating your own tour Office!!! I will recommand you to everybody with very best consience - friendlyness, Fairness, respect - there never was a tiny doubt. Thank you for making trust you all the way. Thank you so much for being there, Joseph.
NL
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A memorable Safari
My wife and I booked the 3-day Panorama Safari which included Tsavo East and West. Steve delivered exactly what we wanted at the price agreed upon and we had a great Safari experience. We particularly enjoyed the small intimate lodges that Paul arranged for us. Particularly memorable was the Rhino Valley Lodge in Tsavo West. This lodge has great rooms, views of the water hole and the food was excellent. The staff were also very friendly. These lodges were much superior to the large impersonal ones we stayed in during our Tanzania Safari. Our driver and guide Peter Kimani was also excellent. We saw lot of animals in both parks although Tsavo east was probably a bit better. We unfortunately did not see any Rhinos but that did not detract from the overall experience.
In the future we are going to arrange a safari to Maasai Mara and when that time comes I will be contacting Steve to handle the arrangements.
QA
Excellent Staff, Good Company
We went on a 6 day safari with Ilmaasai. Our driver Bryson and cook Osman were most accommodating and did everything they could to make our trip great. We saw plenty of animals and were happy with this company. It is locally owned as well, we were happy that our money went to support the local people and not a foreign company.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our experience was amazing no words to describe it.
First a massive thank you to Paul the owner and Peter our driver , My son still call your name (Peter) .
At first we didn't know what to expect considering we were on budget Safari but Paul did an amazing job booking our trip.the camp was not appealing to the eyes when we got there but it turned out to be the best budget camp ever with amazing and caring staff ready to assist .We were lucky to see all the big Five at Maasai mara national park .
My husband loved sitting outside Lenchada camp with Maasai and just watch the star .
We will come back again.
SE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Masai joy
Thank's Simon and Roman for making my 3-day trip to Lake Natron to a
road of joy. One of the highlights was the meeting with all the friendly Masais.
Climbing Oldonyo Lengai with my masai guide Ringa starting in the middle of
night was the greatest. I recomend it to all with good shape.
IT
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
We had a really good experience with this agency! I would reccomend to anyone. The trip was organized as we wanted. We did one week safari for a really good price and we enjoyed all the parks that we've visited. Our guide Tom was really profesional and super nice with us! We've been lucky and we managed to see all the animals.
Also Edwina has been always avaliable to answer all our questions.